A Better Listening Practice Starts with a Pause

A new Fixable episode from the TED Audio Collective, published October 26, 2026, explores what it takes to listen with more intention. Writer and executive coach Emily Kasriel discusses making space, staying curious, allowing silence, and reflecting back what matters—without assuming you already know what the speaker means. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts. (podcasts.apple.com)

One useful growth experiment: in a conversation that allows it, pause before replying, reflect the point you think you heard, and invite correction. The aim isn’t perfect listening or automatic agreement; it’s to notice whether the other person feels more accurately understood. And listening still needs boundaries—no one has to make space for every conversation, at every moment.

What helps you tell the difference between listening to understand and waiting for your turn to speak?